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Makeup is an art form. This statement is taken at face value by makeup artist Ayami Nishimura and British photographer Rankin who have collaborated for a beauty book filled with surreal makeup styles. Check out some of the original makeup styles included.

We are often concerned with popular makeup styles, with the
acceptable and the flattering. But what if we gave up precautions
for just a moment and focused on the endless possibilities that
makeup offers? We might just discover a different world that would
capture our imagination and enable us to expand our visions.
Avant-garde makeup artist Ayami Nishimura has dared to do just that
and the results are truly astonishing and thought provoking.
Another Magazine and Another Man publisher and photographer Rankin
has helped bring the makeup artists' efforts to life for his second
beauty book.

“I’ve worked with hundreds of makeup artists and there are only a
few of them that really inspire you in [this] way. Not to say the
others aren’t good, but it’s just that these guys [like Ayami] have
stories to tell and they want to tell them. [She] has just got
brilliant ideas; very original that really surprise you. My brief
for the book was, ‘Do what you feel, Ayami. Free range—just go for
it,” Rankin told style.com.

Ayami chose futuristic themes for the project: “I studied
photography, fashion illustration, African art, nature, animals,
painting, music – everything, really. I found myself fascinated by
the idea of a cyber theme, and accumulated lots of different ideas
based on that. By the time I started the drawings, I could see the
makeup in my head. For each image, I needed people – stylists,
hairdressers, nail artists, and set designers. Set design was the
most important for me. I like the full image to tell the story, so
I always fill the space."

And the results were exactly as she pictured them to be. Out of
the box, thought provoking, memorable, distinctive and completely
out of the ordinary. Despite the declared futuristic theme, the
makeup artist has explored a wide range of possibilities: Harajuku
girls, nature, the aquatic life and more serve as perfect
influences to completely transform the idea of the true role of
makeup. Escaping from the real world and entering a world where
everything is possible is a sensation that is easy to get into from
the first glimpse of the look.

Regarding the process of working on the new book, Rankin said that:
“Ayami was a joy to work with and really took the open brief to
heart. We’ve created so many original and unique images. It
demonstrates why make-up artists like Ayami, truly are artists in
their own right.” More ultra creative images like these ones can be
found in the already available Ayami Nishimura by Rankin book
priced at £40.

Photos via Rankin Gallery

Roxy Johnson

Typical beauty and fashion enthusiast, always looking out for the moment's hottest trends